Urtica dioica - Vrscikali

Urtica dioica, Stinging nettle

Urtica dioica is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. It is native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and western North America and introduced elsewhere. The species is divided into six subspecies, five of which have many hollow stinging hairs called trichomes on the leaves and stems, which act like hypodermic needles, injecting histamine and other chemicals that produce a stinging sensation when contacted by humans and other animals.

Uses

Wounds, Cuts, Snakebites, Curing liver disorders, Skin eruptions, Blotches, Pimples, Diarrhea, Sore throats

Parts Used

Leaves.

Chemical Composition

The principal chemicals of interest are the sterols and steryl glycosides, including beta-sitosterol. Nettle root also contains lignans (e.g. secoisolariciresinol) and six isolectins collectively referred to as UDA (Urtica dioica agglutinin)

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada
Hindi	Bichchhu
Malayalam
Tamil
Telugu
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	Vrscikali
English	Stinging Nettle

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapha, Vata

Habit

Plant

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Simple	Alternate	The thin, bright to dark green leaves are positioned opposite, with saw-toothed margins and infamous stinging hairs on the underside

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Unisexual	2-4cm long	Yellow	5-20	Tiny, greenish-white flowers are arranged in clusters on slender, branched spikes formed in the leaf axils

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
General	7–10 mm	Stinging nettle produces a small, dry, oval-shaped	Fruits are clustered along drooping flower spikes	1	{{{6}}}

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Vishatinduka Taila as root juice extract

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Prefers a soil rich in phosphates and nitrogen. Plants must be grown in a deep rich soil if good quality fibre is required

Commonly seen growing in areas

Waste ground, hedgerows, Rich soil area.

Photo Gallery

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  Seedlings among grass

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  Seedlings among grass

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  Young plants

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External Links

• Ethnopharmacological in vitro studies on Austria's folk medicine
• Phenolic Compounds Analysis of Root, Stalk, and Leaves of Nettle
• Urtica dioica on science direct
• Urtica dioica on plants for future.org